The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr Samson Ayokunle on Wednesday said Nigerians should stop playing politics with the health of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Ayokunle who made the remark in Lokoja, said Nigerians should leave out sentiments and pray more for the quick recovery of Buhari who is currently in London on medical vacation.
“ Let us continue to pray for him, we don’t play with the life of a human being, and nobody wants to fall sick, so don’t let us continue to make politics out of sickness; let us continue to pray for him,” the CAN President said.
The CAN leader who visited the Kogi chapter of CAN, also cautioned those calling for the resignation of Buhari to be guided by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
“The position of CAN is that, we should follow the constitution, we have the constitution to guide us, so whatever the constitution says let us follow it, we drew it ourselves so let us not break it,” he added.
The CAN president also spoke on the ongoing strike by university lecturers, urging them to dialogue with the Federal Government to quickly resolve the dispute.
“ I think this issue has been on ground for too long, let there be a parley between ASUU and government.
“ We are playing with the future of the younger generation, so let us show them love, don’t let us allow our children to grow up hating us, hating the nation.
“ Strike today strike tomorrow; I beg both parties to exercise patience, understanding and maturity.
“We know that the economy is going upside down, we believe that as we are praying for those managing the economy they will come out strong and be able to proffer solutions.”
Earlier, the state Chairman of CAN, Bishop John Ibenu said that the association had been working harmoniously with other religious groups to ensure peace in the state.
He also spoke on security challenge facing the state and appreciated the collaboration between the state government and security agencies to protect lives and property of residents.
Ibenu said CAN had been interfacing with the state government to ensure that workers were not treated unjustly over the just concluded staff verification.
The chairman briefed the CAN president on efforts being made to ensure smooth operation of the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Commission and other issues affecting Christians in the state.
When it comes to top-notch acting and bringing a character to life, Kehinde Bankole knows her onions. The former Miss Lux who also had a stint in modeling is one actress who continues to wow her fans through her brilliant role interpretations.
The svelte damsel took to her Instagram page on Tuesday 15th of August, to lament on the state of Nigerian politics. She shared the trending video in which Edo State lawmakers are seen exchanging blows over the removal of the speaker.
Bankole said:” Lately I have rather been too ashamed of politics and level of corruption everywhere in Nigeria from even the local government, all the way to the top.
“We know them all, they are our neighbors, friends, relatives and sometimes it could even be our parents, uncles, aunts and boyfriends. We will never tell them the truth that’s why Nigeria is where it is right now. They work in government hospitals, secretariat, registry, schools, and national houses of assembly, honourables, and chairmen of local governments. They didn’t drop from Mars or Jupiter. Who is yours? What are we supposed to be saying and doing that we aren’t? #weknowthemall . EVERY HOUSEHOLD IS THE ONLY TRUE CHANGE THIS NATION NEEDS”.
Flamboyant Nigerian singer, Kcee has stated that his political ambition is not a joke. The singer who has declared his intention to contest during the Anambra gubernatorial election was initially bashed by fans when he made his intention known.
He said:”My campaign manager said I should not speak much about it and that’s what I’m gonna stand on. I’m gonna be making official statement about it but trust me it’s not a joke.I think the youth has to speak up and that’s what I’m saying right now.And I think you have what it takes to do it and I have what it takes so if you believe in yourself, make it rain.”
Speaking on what prompted his decision to venture into politics, Kcee said he desires to make an impact on the lives of his people.
According to him:”We have begun and there is no stopping us. Ladies and gentlemen I present to you the first project of – Attention to Detail movement – The Album proceeds from this would be used to further our campaign project. Do not leave this space. The world is not ready for all the plans we have in store.”
The Senate made this known in a statement by its spokesman, Dr. Aliyu Abdullahi, in Abuja.
It was reacting to protests by a coalition of civil society organisations operating under the aegis of “OurMumuDonDo,” and demanding Buhari’s resignation due to his long medical vacation in London.
Senate urged the protesters to stop heating up the polity, saying that it was creating unnecessary tension in the country.
The upper chamber said the protest was an attempt to divert the attention of the Presidency from the economic and security issues, which were already being tackled.
It explained that Buhari had complied with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulated that he must hand over to the vice president and duly inform the legislature about his medical vacation.
“The President has broken no law and therefore we do not see any justification for this diversion and noise-making.
”The sponsors are merely seeking cheap publicity at the expense of the peace of Nigeria.
”We, in the National Assembly, are satisfied that there is no vacuum. The Federal Government is working.
“Acting President Yemi Osinbajo is providing the required leadership. So, there is no reason for the protests.
”All Nigerians now should focus on praying for the safe return of the President.
‘We in the Senate are happy about the report by the governors and party leaders who recently visited President Buhari in London and we know he will soon return to continue to provide leadership to our people and the rest of Africa.
”We, therefore, call on the protesters to stop all these demonstrations and let their sense of patriotism overshadow the zeal for activism by joining other Nigerians to pray for the president.
“We should also pray for the acting president and Nigeria as a country at this critical period,’’ it stated.
Effervescent rapper, Remilekun Abdulkalid Safaru, aka Reminisce, has been able to stay relevant despite the influx of rappers in the Nigerian music industry. The Kako Bi Chicken star has revealed his desire to venture into politics.
In his words: “I am interested in politics and I see myself becoming a politician in future. One is not going to do music forever and I need to plan my life properly. I also love to engage in business, so I see myself doing a lot of that too.”
When Journalists asked him how he has been able to shield his private life from the public, he said:” I always keep my private life private as I believe that I have the right to my privacy. There is a very big difference between Reminisce, the artiste, and Remi, the family man. I thank God because I’m comfortable and I don’t need validation on social media. I don’t have to put everything I own on social media so that people would know that I have arrived. Inasmuch as I’m not begging anybody for food, it’s all good. Instead of flaunting material things, I prefer to invest in people.”
Former Governor of Oyo State and National Leader of Accord Party, Rashidi Ladoja, has described the victory of Dr. Demola Adeleke, Senator-elect for Osun West District in the Saturday’s by-election as the end of civilian dictatorship in South-West politics.
Ladoja in a statement signed by publicity secretary of the party described Adeleke’s victory as “a good omen for both Accord and PDP in both Oyo and Osun States said the success “signals the end of civilian dictatorship in South-West politics.”
The former governor noted that Adeleke’s victory in Saturday’s by-election has further positioned his party, Accord “to cleanse Oyo State of APC negative change by ensuring the party serves as a rallying point to defeat the Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s surrogate that may be fielded by APC in 2019 elections”.
The statement partly reads: “Accord which is the biggest opposition party in Oyo State has further commended the biggest opposition party in Osun State, PDP, and the people for doing the needful by recording a resounding victory over APC candidate in the Osun West Senatorial election and hope to completely wipe out APC from Osun State political landscape in 2018.
He, however, urged the Senator-elect not to desist from the good virtues that the Adelekes are known for years.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday announced Mr Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the winner of the Osun West Senatorial bye-election.
Prime minister Theresa May has confirmed the UK will look to create a new ‘legal liability’ that could see Facebook, Google, Twitter and other leading tech firms fined if they don’t remove “unacceptable content” from their websites.
In a brief statement issued by the Prime Minister’s office, May says the UK has formed a partnership with France to “tackle online radicalisation”.
The statement says the two countries aim to take “much stronger action against tech companies that fail to remove unacceptable content”.
“The UK and France will work together to encourage corporations to do more and abide by their social responsibility to step up their efforts to remove harmful content from their networks, including exploring the possibility of creating a new legal liability for tech companies if they fail to remove unacceptable content,” May says.
The legal liability would include the potential for firms to be fined if they don’t remove questionable content.
May adds that the UK government will keep working with technology companies and wants to help them develop “tools” that can “identify and remove harmful material automatically”.
The announcement follows multiple suggestions from May and Conservative Party colleagues that “cyberspace” should be regulated.
In the build-up to the June snap general election and following both the Manchester and London Bridge terror attacks, May said there should be no “safe space” for those planning terror attacks to talk online.
In politics, usage of humour, jokes, drama among other forms of entertaining activities, if applied well, have proven to be very potent tools in helping politicians endear people to their personality/policies; and sometimes, they can be of great help in stamping out political tension.
Notwithstanding, same ‘humour’ could ruin the image of a public office holder, especially if it is done in a way that it compromises the office occupied by the politician in question.
However, we are not out to measure the bad or good effect of humour usage, rather we will highlight some politicians in Nigeria who have either become the spotlight in news and social media trends, as a result of their high sense of humour, or ones Nigerians can’t just help but talk about due to their dramatic roles in governance.
Here are eight funny politicians that will do justice when it comes to entertaining their supporters anytime there is need for it.
Yemi Osinbajo
Our surprising number one politician in this mold is Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo. He is very deft at official use of jokes to steal any show. Though he enjoys speaking softly, his sense of humor is hardly soft. He has ably used his excellent jokes delivery to create exciting moments in situations when one least expects it.
A vivid example is the laughter he stirred while delivering his speech at The Platform, a policy and governance forum. VThe Acting President praised Nigerians for being some of the smartest and most creative people in the world.
He threw a triple action joke on Senator Dino Melaye‘s song “Aje ku iya ni o je,”; Whistleblower policy and Nigeria’s Jollof rice being the best in the world.
Osinbajo also displayed his talent as a comedic politician who knows how to woo his audience when he visited River State Governor, Nyesom Wike as part of his official visits to oil producing states.
At one of the receptions held in his honour, comedian Klint Da Drunk, during his performance, handed over N5,000 to Osinbajo, saying “when you give, you will receive in good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over.”
To the pleasant shock of all, Osinbajo outplayed him at his own game when he took the microphone and pulled a bulls-eyed joke on comedian:
“Everything has been going well until Klint da Drunk gave me an expensive N5000. I have kept it close to his Excellency, the governor, in case he asks for it back because he can say that ‘I was drunk when I gave you the money.’
“I must remind him that the scripture that he referred to which suggests that if you give you will be given more, is when you give to God and not to an Ijebu man. So to Klint da Drunk, I’ll keep this until we meet again.”
Sen. Dino Melaye
Like him or not, Senator Dino Melaye who dropped one of the most viral political hit song , ‘Ajekun-Iya-nio-Je’ is as rightly praised by Osinbajo, a drama generalissimo in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Melaye who is gifted in creating highly authentic and attention grabbing activities, uses his skills in both firing salvos into the camps of his critics and saving his brand from very thorough public checks. This special strategy accounts for many of his easy sail in turbulent times.
Recall that while some of his opposition were busy hauling criticisms at him during his “certificate saga”, Melaye went ahead to wear a graduation gown [obviously rented] to the Senate and this simple act doused the intensity and rigour paid to the whole process by Nigerians.
View some of Melaye’s authentic creation:
[Video] Melaye performs his viral song, ‘Ajeku Iya’ with live band
Politics aside, Governor Ayodele Fayose is naturally a funny man. For Fayose, who is one of the major propagators of ‘Stomach-infrastructure’ policy in Nigeria, comedy is one big mandate he owes and of course gives his people on a daily basis.
But does it work to just wake up as a politician and be cracking your people up? Yes! It does…if not he won’t be back in office as a governor and still be positioning himself for 2018 governorship poll in the state.
His creativity is not far from your reach, check your search engines and social media – He is either there buying beans and bread at a roadside, acting disc-jockey in a club, driving a truck or lampooning his opponents. Trust me, you dare not keep a Fayose as your rival if you so wish to journey into politics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg_xKLid3RE
4 Patience Jonathan
Most people will agree with me that wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, is highly missed by those who love to enjoy a good laugh in the political circle in Nigeria today.
Whether it is deliberate, politically motivated or not, no one can really say, but the ex-first lady who is from the South-South region of Nigeria throws heavy blows of hilarious pidgin, exclamations [Chai-iiiii] and several grammatical puns that take days, weeks and most times months before such drop off trend chats.
During a remembrance event for the late Dim Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Patience reportedly said “Ojukwu is a great man; he died but his manhood lives on.”
Of course Dame Patience put a noble meaning into the word “manhood”, however internet users did not miss the opportunity to have a good laugh upon hearing it.
“My fellow widows…” is another assumed, epic quote from the former first lady. Patience Jonathan has a special talent at gaining public attention. “My fellow widows”, was how the ex-First Lady started her speech in March, 2011, as she addressed women who lost their husbands.
4 Hon. Gudaji Kazaure
The name might not sound very popular, but Hon. Gudaji Kazaure a House of Representative member from Katsina state has a forceful comical way of expressing difficult questions in funny mannerisms. He easily captivates his listeners and you can’t but keep pressing replay to watch him talk whenever videos of him hit the social media.
6 Obasanjo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is an excellent storyteller who uses parables to hit hard at his critics or sometimes prove his points.
‘Ebora Owu’, as he is sometimes praised by most Nigerians, is always looked out for and of course he [Obasanjo] knows how to put himself at the very centre of the news despite a decade of being out of office.
On a mild day, you could hear him say: “With all due respect, if Jesus Christ could come to the world and be the chairman of INEC, any election he would conduct will be disputed.” But in a foul mood, you had better not be “a compound fool” near his acidic mouth.
Obasanjo brought the Jesus Christ angle to the discuss when an angry segment of the citizenry in 2010 caused the removal Professor Maurice Iwu as INEC chairman.
7 Patrick Obahiagbon
Today is Democracy day and Obahiagbon’s definition of democracy is a clear reminder of why he can’t be forgotten when topics on humour usage as an armour in politics comes up. In a classic, yet very obfuscating and comic eloquence, the former Edo state House member, former House of Representative member and immediate past Chief of Staff to the Adams Oshiomhole government has this to say of democracy:
“A celebration of democracy or a deprecable apotheosis of an hemorrhaging plutocracy, cascading into a mobocracy with all the ossifying proclivities of a kakistocracy? With our “democracy” enveloped in a paraplegic crinkum-crankum, we must all rise up to bring to focal hiceps and biceps, Nigeria’s “Pluto-mobo-kakistocracy”…. Certainly not democracy!” – Patrick Obahiagbon
8. Peter Obi
Former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, may not be overtly known for use of humour, especially because his voice sounds tiny and feminine. That alone can get one distracted about his craft.
However, ever since he left office as governor of Anambra, Obi is becoming famous as a good orator as he has busied himself attending events where he has practically dazzled his audience with so many funny statements. In trying to position himself for the presidency, possibly in 2023, Obi is using all the nice tricks in the book to woo and almost enchanted citizenry.
The Chief Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has warned officers and soldiers of the army to steer clear of politics or have themselves to blame.
Buratai rather advised personnel, who were interested in politics, “to resign their commission or apply for voluntary discharge forthwith.”
Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, the army spokesman said in a statement on Tuesday that the warning followed information received by Buratai that “some individuals have been approaching some officers and soldiers for undisclosed political reasons.”
“On the basis of that, the army chief, has warned such persons to desist from these acts.
“He also reminded them that Nigerian army is a thorough professional, disciplined, loyal and apolitical institution that has clear constitutional roles and responsibilities.
“Any officer or soldier of Nigerian Army found to be hobnobbing with such elements or engaged in unprofessional conducts such as politicking would have himself or herself to blame.”
Usman further quoted Buratai as restating that the Nigerian army would remain apolitical and respect the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau has said Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State is fast becoming a legend in Nigerian politics with his people oriented project and policies.
Shekarau, also a former Minister of Education under the Goodluck Jonathan administration, said the affection the governor shows to the people can be seen in the “numerous humane policies and projects Fayose is executing in the state.”
According to a statement on Saturday by the Chief Press Secretary to Fayose, Idowu Adelusi, Shekarau spoke during a visit to Ado-Ekiti.
Shekarau, who was taken round some projects by Fayose, said he was overwhelmed by the close relationship between Fayose and the people of Ekiti.
He charged Nigerian leaders to emulate the Ekiti governor by identifying with their people and meeting their needs.
His words: “I am not surprised by the great performance of Governor Ayodele Fayose in Ekiti State.
“We were governors at the same time in 2003, though we were in different political parties, he did wonderfully well then too.
“I am impressed by the projects being executed by the governor despite the recession in the country and the small statutory allocations coming to the state”.
Similarly, Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Charles Yau Ilya, said he was happy at the projects and that what he saw on ground confirmed that the Ekiti governor was a true and real friend of the common man.
“This is my first visit to Ekiti State and I have heard a lot about Governor Ayodele Fayose.
“I am really happy that the governor is a living legend, whose love for the people of the state is duly reciprocated by the people who are showing their love for him too,” he said.
